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Monthly Archives: April 2012

THE climax to another enthralling Championship season arrives this Saturday lunchtime, with two promotion positions to be resolved.

Southampton, who are odds-on favourites to join champions elect Reading in automatic promotion to the Premier League, take on an already relegated Coventry City in front of a sold-out St Mary’s Stadium, with a win securing second spot.

Nigel Adkin’s side are looking to make it back-to-back promotions after last year’s success in League One and promotion this season would end a seven-year absence from the top flight.

Any kind of slip-up though by the Saints and West Ham United are poised to pounce, having lost just once in their previous 17 games. The Hammers take on Hull City at Upton Park.

Victory at Leicester City on Monday night has given them a final opportunity to steal back second place, a position they had occupied for the majority of the season.

On paper, the outcome looks straightforward for the Saints, but you just never know and as football experts say, it’s a funny old game.

Meanwhile, the final play-off position will also be decided this weekend.

Cardiff, who currently occupy sixth place, are on 72 points and travel to Crystal Palace, while Middlesbrough, lying two points below, travel to Watford.

A draw for the Welsh side will be enough, unless Tony Mowbray’s side win by 10 clear goals.

The other play-off spots are sorted, with Blackpool and Birmingham occupying the other two places.

Bristol City’s win last weekend secured their status in the Championship for next season, and in doing so sent Portsmouth down, along with Coventry City and Doncaster Rovers.

Whatever happens it promises to be a cracking afternoon of Championship football, with drama, delirium and despair no doubt in evidence at many of the grounds.

I think the Saints will draw at St Mary’s, and this will (just) be enough to claim second spot, while I can’t see beyond regulars Cardiff for the final play-off place.

This Saturday, 7th April, will see Southampton and Portsmouth battle it out for the second time this season in a game which has been newly dubbed ‘el Clasicoast’.

For the two sets of fans, it is the Barcelona v Real Madrid of south-coast football. Nothing can compete with it in terms of sheer intensity, passion and commitment.

The reverse fixture earlier on this season at Fratton Park saw the two sides cancel each other out in a 1-1 draw. Southampton were top of the league, while Portsmouth were six points clear of relegation.

How times change.

Less than four months on, and Southampton are just inches away from the Premier League. With just six games remaining, Nigel Adkins’ side hold a two point advantage over Reading in second, although more importantly a six-point gap over West Ham in third place.

Meanwhile, Portsmouth, having been deduced 10 points for going into an administration for a second time in three years, lie five points from safety. League One football now seems an inevitably (if the club remain in existence).

The difference now between the two sides could not be more stark.

The Saints have been clearly the league’s best side this year, and no-one (except maybe Pompey fans) would begrudge them a crack in the Premier League for the first time since 2005.

Pompey are sinking slowly into the abyss, and possibly even out of existence. The 10-point deduction has meant relegation is a near certainty, and an exodus of the team’s highest earners (and best players) has done little to help matters on the field. Off the field, the club should have enough cash to see out the end of the season, but after that it is anyone’s guess.

Back to this Saturday then, and Southampton come into the game on the back of a comprehensive 3-0 defeat up at Blackpool last Saturday evening. Prior to the defeat, the Saints had won seven out of their previous eight, so they will be desperate to ensure their miserable afternoon by the sea up north was just a one-off.

Top scorer Rickie Lambert missed last weekend’s defeat, but should return to lead the line and right-back Frazer Richardson will hope to return to the matchday squad.

Portsmouth have won two and lost two in their past four games. Wins against Birmingham and Hull City were combined with disappointing defeats against Coventry and most recently Burnley, when Michael Appleton’s men were thrashed 5-1 at Fratton Park.

On-loan midfielder George Thorne has played his last game this season for the Blues and will return to parent club West Bromwich Albion, having picked up an ankle injury.

Israeli defender Tal Ben Haim is a doubt, but Chris Maguire has had his loan extended from Derby County extended until the end of the season and will start up front for Pompey.

The game at St Mary’s is a sell-out, and it promises to be another feisty and hotly contested derby game. Everything points towards a home victory, but do not write off Portsmouth just yet. If there was ever a game which the players will want to win, it’s this one.

This weekend is an opportunity for someone to write their name into either Fratton or St Mary’s folklore.